LAST year's double champions Electrical Switchgear Automation (ESA) and
League champions Old La Sallians of Klang (Olak) will have more than just
the RM25,000 in mind when they square off in the MHF-Milo-NSC Junior
League final tomorrow.
If ESA win they become the first team to bag the overall title back-to
back and if Olak triumph, they will become the third team to win both
titles in the same year.
Yayasan Negri Sembilan were double champions in 1995 and ESA equalled
this feat last year while Olak look a good bet for the same tomorrow.
"Although we beat ESA 1-0 for the League title, I have told my players
not to be overconfident because anything can happen in the final," said
Olak assistant team manager Joseph de Silva.
"The boys have been training hard the past few days and morale is high,
winning a double is what they want now."
With the second title just a step away, Olak have suffered a setback
when they lost top scorer Syayrim Uda Karim to two yellow cards but de
Silva does not think it is a major setback.
"Yes, we will miss Syayrim in the final but hockey is a team sport and
my boys have been playing to perfection. Teamwork will see us through
again. The teams who have relied on a few selected players have ended the
League empty handed," added de Silva.
Olak have had a dramatic rise to the top. They finished seventh three
years ago and were sixth last year.
"The team was formed because I noticed many talented players did not
have the avenue to sharpen their skills.
"Once it was formed, we won many six-a-sides and other hockey carnivals
in Klang. That was when we decided to have our own youth development
programme and it has paid off handsomely." he said.
Goalkeeper Saiful Azhar is a product of the programme and the Malaysian
Hockey Federation Talent Squad player is one of Olak's aces in their deck.
A pillar of confidence between the posts, he and former Andersonians
goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin have done a good job so far.
"But good goalkeepers alone are of no use if their team is weak. Saiful
was 13-years-old when he started playing for Olak and has come a long way
since then," he added.
ESA will have a tough job prising open the Olak defence and coach Bob
Rajendran is fully aware of it.
"Yes, this is one match (against Olak) we are looking forward to. I can
safely say that it is going to be an explosive affair," said Rajendran
after the semifinals.
"ESA have been playing well, the only thing they haven't been doing is
making use of all the chances available. We must improve on penalty
corners, we have missed too many in the League."
ESA will rely on K. Keevan Raj, K. Logan Raj, Mohamed Rodhanizam and
Dexter Kang to do the damage.
The overall title comes with a RM25,000 purse but if the match goes into
sudden-death and penalty flicks, the prize money will be shared.
The fight for third placing is expected to be just as interesting.
Tampin District and Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (PJMC) both have the
players to pull off a win.
TOMORROW - 3rd placing: Tampin v PJMC (3.30); Final: Olak v ESA (5.30) -
Bukit Jalil Hockey Stadium.
(END)
League champions Old La Sallians of Klang (Olak) will have more than just
the RM25,000 in mind when they square off in the MHF-Milo-NSC Junior
League final tomorrow.
If ESA win they become the first team to bag the overall title back-to
back and if Olak triumph, they will become the third team to win both
titles in the same year.
Yayasan Negri Sembilan were double champions in 1995 and ESA equalled
this feat last year while Olak look a good bet for the same tomorrow.
"Although we beat ESA 1-0 for the League title, I have told my players
not to be overconfident because anything can happen in the final," said
Olak assistant team manager Joseph de Silva.
"The boys have been training hard the past few days and morale is high,
winning a double is what they want now."
With the second title just a step away, Olak have suffered a setback
when they lost top scorer Syayrim Uda Karim to two yellow cards but de
Silva does not think it is a major setback.
"Yes, we will miss Syayrim in the final but hockey is a team sport and
my boys have been playing to perfection. Teamwork will see us through
again. The teams who have relied on a few selected players have ended the
League empty handed," added de Silva.
Olak have had a dramatic rise to the top. They finished seventh three
years ago and were sixth last year.
"The team was formed because I noticed many talented players did not
have the avenue to sharpen their skills.
"Once it was formed, we won many six-a-sides and other hockey carnivals
in Klang. That was when we decided to have our own youth development
programme and it has paid off handsomely." he said.
Goalkeeper Saiful Azhar is a product of the programme and the Malaysian
Hockey Federation Talent Squad player is one of Olak's aces in their deck.
A pillar of confidence between the posts, he and former Andersonians
goalkeeper Roslan Jamaluddin have done a good job so far.
"But good goalkeepers alone are of no use if their team is weak. Saiful
was 13-years-old when he started playing for Olak and has come a long way
since then," he added.
ESA will have a tough job prising open the Olak defence and coach Bob
Rajendran is fully aware of it.
"Yes, this is one match (against Olak) we are looking forward to. I can
safely say that it is going to be an explosive affair," said Rajendran
after the semifinals.
"ESA have been playing well, the only thing they haven't been doing is
making use of all the chances available. We must improve on penalty
corners, we have missed too many in the League."
ESA will rely on K. Keevan Raj, K. Logan Raj, Mohamed Rodhanizam and
Dexter Kang to do the damage.
The overall title comes with a RM25,000 purse but if the match goes into
sudden-death and penalty flicks, the prize money will be shared.
The fight for third placing is expected to be just as interesting.
Tampin District and Petaling Jaya Municipal Council (PJMC) both have the
players to pull off a win.
TOMORROW - 3rd placing: Tampin v PJMC (3.30); Final: Olak v ESA (5.30) -
Bukit Jalil Hockey Stadium.
(END)
